Inside/Outside Politics: Can't We All Just Get Along With People Who Share Most of Our Values?

Building coalitions instead of critiquing one another.

On June 14th at No Kings Day, Durham Democrats had a table with information. Repeatedly, I heard the question, “But what do Democrats do?” I’ve been thinking about that. Let’s talk about inside/outside politics and how we move forward, together.

graphic by Bull City Indivisible

OUTSIDE POLITICS

Grassroots groups, Indivisible groups, unions, longtime activist groups and coalitions, and a growing number of people interested in resisting and fighting this authoritarian regime make up the “outside.” In Durham, we are fortunate to have so many rich and diverse examples of all of these. We march, we lobby, we show up at the NCGA and our City Council meetings. However, our diversity can also be problematic; our progressive venn diagram includes many shared values, but not all, and different ideas about how to get there. And some true differences. There are also egos to contend with, those who always think they know the only right way to do things, those who feel there is a “purity test” for the left, those who say “if she doesn’t do “x” she will lose my vote.”

We live in traumatic times. Responses to trauma can be to react without being thoughtful, or to fight, flee or freeze. (I write a separate Substack about this!) We are all on our last nerve; we shouldn’t be fighting with each other. More compassion, less judgement. Let’s get this done, together.

As Cory Booker put it, the “power of the people is greater than the people in power.” If we stand together, remembering what and who we are fighting for…health care, human rights and dignity, voting rights, the planet, and so much more we can take back our democracy and improve it immensely. Squabbling about small points, alienating allies, doesn’t get us anywhere; it takes us backwards and is destructive.

INSIDE POLITICS

We have a two party system in this country. Which party aligns most closely with your values?

Right now, many are frustrated and overwhelmed, terrified, too. Blaming “the Democrats” is a common response, rather than examining the complexity of big money in politics (both parties), the long game the GOP/Libertarians/John Locke and Heritage have been playing for decades. Nancy MacLean’s book Democracy in Chains is a good place to start; it leads us directly to our current moment and the gerrymandering that got us here courtesy of Project Redmap.

And actually, the Democrats R US. Here in Durham and in NC, we are so lucky to have energetic, young (under 28!) leadership ready to move forward with fierce creativity. Anderson Clayton is our state party chair. Emerson Kirby is our Durham Democrats chair.

What do Democrats do? That depends on you, on what you decide we should do.

Because getting in the streets isn’t enough. Voting into office those who make change from the inside is part of it. Imagine if all the voters who stayed home in 2024 had voted? Most of them were Democratic leaning. Our world would be different right now.

Voter suppression is rampant, especially here in NC with Voter ID, the takeover of the NC Elections Board this past year and threats to shorten early voting.

So what do Democrats do?

We will need to work together, in joy and solidarity, with everyone we can. Together, we will register voters, knock doors and talk to everyone we know to Get Out The Vote (GOTV) in 2025, 2026 and beyond.

We have a plan to take back our state with FAIR MAPS.

Did you know that NC Supreme Court Justices and Court of Appeals Judges have EIGHT YEAR TERMS? Why do the courts matter? Hint: voting rights, the environment, reproductive rights, health care, education, guns, criminal justice…and more.

For NC right now, the answer is also FAIR MAPS.

We need to GOTV to re-elect Justice Anita Earls in 2026.

These graphics and explanations are from FLIP NC: The Path to Fair Maps

Please sign up for a shift to phone bank, canvass or register voters HERE.

Saturday, June 21 is a Canvass for Our Courts to educate folks about the above issues! Register here

Saturday June 21 is a Canvass in Henderson, NC to hold the GOP Accountable and share information with voters.. Register here

SAVE THE DATES:

JULY 6 TRIANGLE BRIDGES TO FREEDOM Register here

On July 6th from 4pm-6pm, we will have a coordinated bridge brigade that covers all of the bridges in the Triangle to show our love for our country and our fight to protect our freedom. As we celebrate our Independence Day, we want to have a huge Visibility Brigade event where drivers see our message "Protect Freedom" as they drive under every overpass in Durham, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Cary, and beyond.

More details to follow. You can learn these details by visiting our website.

Each bridge will have the same message: "Protect Freedom" We will ask people to bring American flags.

JULY 17 NEXT MOBILIZATION:

This is the anniversary of the death of John Lewis. Let’s remember him in peace and in power.

John Lewis, in an op-ed written right before he died, “Ordinary people with extraordinary vision can redeem the soul of America by getting in what I call good trouble, necessary trouble. Voting and participating in the democratic process are key. The vote is the most powerful nonviolent change agent you have in a democratic society. You must use it because it is not guaranteed. You can lose it.”

Finally…This is how we do it:

Durham Young Dems Ice Cream & Cans was great!

Here are some of those who showed up to get to work (and play).

JUNE 30 is the next gathering. For more info, follow Durham Young Dems on IG

Democrats R Us. We are the change in this party; working at a local level can have a big impact. If you are 18-36 and want to get involved in local politics, grassroots work, or just be more informed, come meet others interested in making a difference in our community. Also, we have fun together. Let’s grow this movement.

MORE ACTIONS NEXT WEEK!!! Take the weekend off, find a Juneteenth celebration. Happy solstice.